our next guest was the man who matt him at the airport in new york city. quote, mandela was a genuine hero, also my personal hero, a transcend ant symbol of freedom, he believed against overwhelming odds he would one day succeed. he was ready to die for his beliefs. there may have been people equal in modern history but i would dare say no one was ever greater. joining us new york city mayor david dinkins. mr. mayor, welcome. >> good to see you again. >> good to see you, too. we know him and remember him as an icon. you knew him personally. what was he like as a person? >> that's the thing that was most amazing about him, total absence of bitterness. i don't know who among us after having been imprisoned for more than 27 years in protest against a cause you deeply believe could behave as he did. but here is a man who when they asked him why aren't you angry and what not? his response was to be angry was to continue to be in prison. he was the same always. you wondered, was that his publ was he different in private? he was the same -- he stayed with us at g